Author of ‘Unequal Partners’ and ‘Revisiting the Social Contract’ – Datuk Dr Johan Ariffin.
The concept of a ‘social contract’ has been manipulated by Peninsular politicians to override the provisions of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63). This notion, which was originally a quid pro quo arrangement among leaders of the three major communities (Malay, Chinese, Indians) during the formation of the Federation of Malaya, has been politically weaponized to pressure non-Malays, particularly those in Sabah and Sarawak, into compliance. However, the so-called social contract had no connection to the Borneo states. Over time, it has been misapplied to these regions, serving to entrench Malay hegemony under the guise of ‘Ketuanan Melayu.’ This distortion not only undermines the historical context but also perpetuates an inequitable narrative in Sabah and Sarawak.
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